39 ARE INDICTED IN CHELSEA DRUG STING
Arrests Follow 10-Month Probe

CHELSEA -- For the past 10 months, any time of day or night, they have
prowled the Bellingham Square neighborhood, the hunters and the hunted.

Yesterday, Suffolk County officials described the outcome: Thirty-six men
and three women were charged with dealing highly potent heroin or cocaine.
Two guns were seized, and five kilos of cocaine were snapped up by Chelsea
and State Police with agents from the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration posing as drug buyers.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley told reporters yesterday that
all 39 people were indicted last week by a Suffolk County grand jury. He
said the 10-month investigation was designed to improve the quality of life
in Bellingham Square and to send a message to drug dealers in the area.

"You will not be allowed to turn this city, with all its great traditions
and great people, into an open air drug market," said Conley, noting that
the charges stem from numerous drug buys during the investigation. Chelsea
"belongs to the honest, hardworking people who just want a safe city to
live, go to their jobs and raise their children," he said.

Rodney Benson, assistant special agent in charge of the Boston DEA, said
the heroin was extremely potent -- roughly 60 to 70 percent pure compared
to a purity level just a few years ago of 5 or 6 percent. Most of the
heroin came from Colombia, he said, adding that investigators hope the
arrests will lead to progress in investigations against that country's drug
cartel organizations.

Chelsea Police Chief Frank J. Garvin said some of those arrested belonged
to street gangs while others were not linked to any criminal organization.
Garvin said he expects drug trafficking around Bellingham Square to slow
down, but he did not claim the arrests would bring dealing there to an end.

According to Conley's office, 19 of the suspects are charged with drug
trafficking for the second time and conviction would lead to a mandatory
seven-year prison sentence. Police arrested 22 people in Chelsea yesterday
and lodged charges against 12 others who are in custody on other charges.
Police were seeking the final five suspects and those in custody were
scheduled to be arraigned yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court.